“I don’t think a leader’s often
in that position, Mr. West; and considering what I’m
up against, I can’t refuse any support that’s
offered me. It’s one reason why I’ve
taken yours.”

“Now that I’ve joined you, I’d better
mention a little discovery West and I made this afternoon,”
said George.

Hardie’s expression grew eager as he listened.

“It’s certainly liquor—­for
the reservation Indians,” he broke out.
“If we can fix the thing on Beamish—­I
haven’t a doubt that he’s responsible—­we
can close the Sachem.”

“Then we had better decide how it’s to
be done,” Grant said curtly.

He ruled out several suggestions, and finally said:

“I expect the case will be sent for to-night,
and we want two witnesses who’ll lie by in the
sloo. One of them ought to be a farmer; but we’ll
see about that. Guess your part is to find out
how the liquor left the Butte, Mr. Hardie. What
do you think of the plan, ma’am?”

“I leave it to you,” said Mrs. Nelson,
half reluctantly. “But be warned—­if
the men can’t close the Sachem, the women of
Sage Butte will undertake the thing.”

“Then we have only to decide who is to watch
the bluff,” said Hardie.

“As I first mentioned the matter, I’ll
go, for one,” George volunteered.

“You’re the right man,” declared
Grant. “As a newcomer who’s never
been mixed up with local affairs, your word would carry
more weight with the court. The opposition couldn’t
make you out a partizan. But you want to recognize
what you’re doing—­after this, you’ll
find yourself up against all the Sachem toughs.
It’s quite likely they’ll make trouble
for you.”

“I wonder whether such reasons count for much
with Mr. Lansing?” Flora said suggestively.

George made no reply, but Edgar laughed.

“They don’t, Miss Grant; you can set your
mind at rest on that. You don’t seem curious
whether they count with me.”

“You’re not going,” Grant told him.
“We must have two men who can be relied on,
and I can put my hand on another who’s younger
and a little more wiry than I am.” He
turned to George. “What you have to do
is to lie close in the sloo grass until the fellows
come for the liquor, when you’ll follow them
to the reservation, without their seeing you.
Then you’ll ride up and make sure you would
know them again. They should get there soon
after daylight, as they won’t strike the bluff
until it’s dark, but there’s thick brush
in the ravine the trail follows for the last few miles.
It won’t matter if they light out, because Flett
will pick up their trail. I’ll send for
him right off, but he could hardly get through before
morning.”